Azzam looks pale and sad as he tries to sell some homemade biscuits.
At the age of 8, he has to provide income for his family, who have been uprooted from their home.
The family lived in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, and fled to the southern city of Rafah during the early stages of the current genocidal war. Their home is among the many buildings that Israel has destroyed in Beit Hanoun.
“All I want is to go back to Beit Hanoun and build our home again,” Azzam said.
Before the war, Azzam’s father ran a store selling cellphones. The family had to leave that business and so much else behind.
Azzam is the eldest of three children.
Each morning his mother wakes up early to cook biscuits on a fire. Azzam then takes them to a market area so that he can sell them there.
Azzam’s father is unable to help sell the biscuits as he is busy searching for water. That involves queuing for hours and carrying large containers.
The working day is long. Azzam starts at 8 am and he doesn’t get back to his parents until the evening.
He makes approximately $8 per day, sometimes less…..more
